What could be more fun? Her mam and dad’s boat only slept eight at a squeeze, but for a bigger crowd you could hire a fancy cruiser that slept ten to twelve, which would be ideal for a hen party on the river . . . A gang of girls with food, wine, bunks, and a huge boat to steer and sail would be mad!
She checked it out with Aisling and Tara and Sarah, and they all thought it was a brilliant idea, too.
‘Most of the girls have never been on a river cruiser. God, can you imagine the laugh we’ll have!’ said Tara, telling her to go ahead and book it.
She emailed everyone to check dates and warn them to keep it a secret from Amy, and had gone ahead and booked the last weekend in July with the cruiser company. She’d also worked out a route taking in pubs and restaurants and other places to stop along the way.
Seeing the cruiser The Emerald Princess moored down on the marina at Carrick-on-Shannon, Amy couldn’t believe that they were boating instead of going to a spa. Everyone screamed with delight, and the cruiser looked amazing, sitting there at the marina waiting for them.
‘Oh my God, is this our boat?’ yelled Tara as nine of them assembled on Friday afternoon with their gear along the wooden jetty where the boats were moored. ‘It’s massive!’
The cruiser had four twin cabins and a living area which could be divided up, the couches converting into two big double beds. The Emerald Princess was perfect, and very different from Jess’s family’s ancient wooden cruiser. It had a fancy power shower, an immaculate white-painted galley kitchen, and a huge deck equipped with loungers and sun-chairs, as if they were on the Mediterranean instead of cruising the Shannon.
Jess had to sign the form declaring that she was fit to operate the cruiser, and was glad that her father had insisted that she learn to sail their boat and do her Mariner’s Certificate! Everyone in her family was well used to taking their turn at the wheel and navigating locks and the waterways. However, the cruise ship company insisted that the rest of the crew of girls took a quick navigation course in a classroom, so they’d know how to manage locks and to moor up.
The next morning the other three girls would join them. Nikki hadn’t been able to make it on Friday, and Sarah and Kerrie were both relying on husbands and mothers to help mind their small children as they escaped for the Saturday and Sunday away.
Jess had sent everyone an email advising them what to wear on board, but could see two pairs of sneaky high heels under jeans already. She had set a limit of one holdall per person, as storage was usually pretty limited, but this edict had been broken, too, with four of the girls toting bags more suited to a week in Marbella or Cannes than the inclement Shannon River. Jess prayed that they had at least all brought anoraks and rainproof jackets.
‘Oh, Jess, it’s lovely. I can’t believe that you found us such a perfect boat,’ congratulated Amy, grabbing the biggest cabin for the two of them. ‘It’s so big and comfortable.’
‘Oh, look, there’s a dishwasher and a huge fridge,’ remarked Mel, depositing two bottles of champagne in it.
The fridge was soon crammed, looking like an off-licence with a huge supply of alcohol, including lots of champagne, ready for tonight’s pre-dinner drinks.
‘There’s a massive flat screen TV and DVD player in the lounge,’ cheered Tara.
‘And a great sound system,’ informed Aisling, plugging in her iPod and giving them all a blast of Beyoncé.
Once they had thrown all the bags in their cabins and got themselves sorted out, Jess went up on deck to turn on the engine and cast off. She wanted to be out on the water and give the girls a bit of a sail up the river before they stopped to eat for the night.
‘Are you sure you know how to do this?’ quizzed Orla, glancing around the crowded marina and the fleet of cruisers.
‘Yes, once one or two of you give me a hand up on deck, as I don’t want to tip off another boat.’
Everyone was up ready to help as the engine roared into life and the boat began to move, Amy ready to cast off from where The Emerald Princess was moored, as Jess slowly manoeuvred the craft between the other cruisers and reversed out from the jetty and into open water to a huge cheer. Orla, armed with her mini-camcorder, recorded it all. Jess stayed calm as she steered the Princess upriver and let the throttle roar, giving everyone a sudden burst of speed.
‘Can I have a go?’ begged Tara.
‘Later,’ promised Jess. She intended making sure all the girls got a chance to take the wheel, but not here where the marina officer could still see them. She’d wait till they were miles away from another craft and it was safer.
As they moved upriver she could see the girls were impressed, as there was nothing like being out in the waterways, especially on a long hot summer’s day! She had checked the weather forecast, and overall it was good, though there was a threat of rainfall by Sunday. Two bottles of wine were opened, and the girls stretched out on the loungers in their T-shirts and shorts, lathering themselves in sun block as the cruiser passed by fields and woods and the beautiful Shannon riverside.
‘Save me some for later,’ Jess joked. She wanted to show them two little islands and give them a view of Claremount House, the magnificent restored Georgian mansion which was about a mile upriver and had its own formal terraced gardens and a wooden boathouse and little jetty. She didn’t believe in drinking and driving, and would save having any wine till they were safely moored for the night.
‘This is bliss,’ declared Mel, trailing her fingers in the water.
Jess took a break from the wheel and stopped the cruiser as they all lapped up the sunshine. They cheered as Tara and Mel, Lisa, Amy and Orla took an impromptu dip in the water.
‘It’s freezing!’ they roared, as they splashed around before hastily scrambling back up on deck, teeth chattering and lips, fingers and toes blue with the cold.
‘You mad things! Where do you think you are?’ Jess joked. ‘This is not Puerto Banus or Vilamoura! The water hasn’t even heated up here yet.’
‘Now you tell us!’ shivered Tara, wrapping herself in a towel.
Jess had it all worked out where they would moor for the night: the pretty riverside town of Tarmonbarry, which was a regular port of call for cruisers. There was a great little restaurant and bar called Donovan’s just near the waterfront, and she had booked a table for them. She stood beside Lisa and Mel and Amy as each of them excitedly took a turn at the wheel.
The sun was beginning to dip from the sky as they pulled into Tarmonbarry and moored, everyone racing to change in their cabins for the night’s fun. They kicked off the night with champagne toasts for the beautiful bride-to-be up on deck. Amy was certainly that, wearing a pale-pink figure-hugging dress and wrap, and looking absolutely gorgeous. They took turns recounting when they had each met Amy, and how they had become friends. Jess, Tara and Aisling had been at school with her, and were her oldest friends. Orla and Mel and Susan had been at college with her, and Lisa and Kerrie had gone on a Spanish course with her one summer in Barcelona. Amy was one of those people who just seemed to gather friends along the way.
‘One more bottle of champagne and then we’ll head for dinner,’ promised Tara. ‘We are all starving.’
Donovan’s was packed when they got there, and they had to wait and have a drink before they could sit at their table. The Friday night crowd was in hearty form, and Jess recognized a few of her brother Eamon’s friends at a table in the corner.
‘Wow, this is a great place!’ said Susan, eyeing up the local talent.
‘And the menu is great, too,’ added Tara, as she deliberated over the array of fresh fish on offer.
They took ages ordering, and the waitress was patient as the girls repeatedly changed their minds. There seemed to be a constant flow of wine as the meal progressed, and by the time the dessert menu came Jess had decided it was cocktail time. A spoon of ice cream or pudding nicked from someone’s plate would do her, as she would prefer to treat herself to one of Donovan’s renowned concoctions. Amaretto,
grenadine, blue curaçao with vodka, or a rum-based cocktail. She opted for the Donovan’s Delish, and almost licked the glass clean. The rest of the girls, curious, decided to try one, too.
‘Wow, this place is such a find!’ slurred Orla. ‘I wish that there was somewhere like this in Dublin.’
Jess was arguing that she thought it was so great precisely because it wasn’t in Dublin, as they ordered a last round of drinks. Then the restaurant staff gradually began to clear the tables, and the bar got ready to close.
‘Back to our boat,’ teased Tara. ‘We have a fridge full of drink there.’
Before she knew it, they were all making their way towards The Emerald Princess.
The night was warm, and they all sat up on deck chatting and drinking for hours before eventually sloping off to their cabins.
‘I’m knackered,’ said Amy, calling it a night, too, and falling on to her bunk in her bra and pants, ‘but it’s been so lovely.’
Jess tried not to think about how many Donovan’s Delishes she had had as she grasped the ladder and climbed up on the top bunk to sleep.
‘Jess, thanks,’ said Amy drunkenly. ‘You always believed that Dan and I would get back together, and made me believe it, too. I’m so lucky to have a friend like you! God knows what would have happened when Matt was home if I hadn’t been staying with you! Matt wanted me to go away for a weekend with him, but I knew that you would kill me! Anyway, that was when poor Gran had her accident!’
‘I thought you had gone away with him,’ Jess confessed drunkenly. ‘I phoned his house looking for you, but his mum said he’d gone to Kilkenny.’
‘You what?’ Amy laughed.
‘I couldn’t contact you or find you, and I just put two and two together and made three.’ Jess giggled. ‘Ciara and I drove all the way down to Kilkenny to try to find you and Matt.’
‘You drove down to Kilkenny! I don’t believe you.’
‘Yes, and it was so embarrassing. Matt was staying in the hotel with some girl!’
‘He’s still such a shit!’ said Amy, giggling. ‘Any more confessions tonight, Jess?’
‘Do you remember the night of Dan’s birthday?’
‘Of course I do. Why?’
‘I was the girl that Liam went home with!’
‘You what? You were with Liam? Oh no, Jess! He’s such an absolute bastard!’
‘I know,’ said Jess. ‘An absolute one, but I fancied him rotten then!’
Jess felt Amy suddenly reach up and take her hand. ‘Jess, forget Liam and guys like him! You’re too good for them.’
‘Sure.’ She yawned.
‘Jess, you’re so good, organizing this hen for me. When your turn comes to get married I’ll do the same for you, I promise.’
Jess collapsed on the pillow. ‘Thanks, Amy.’ She giggled, trying to keep her balance in the upper bunk. ‘But at the rate my love life is going I don’t think I’m ever going to need a bridesmaid!’
Chapter Sixty
The river was busy as they arrived into Athlone Town, where they were due to pick up the other girls, who had travelled down by train.
They passed crowded tour boats and cruisers and dinghies as they searched for a place to moor and pick up the others.
‘I told them to wait down near the quayside for us!’ said Jess, craning to see if she could spot them. The Midlands market town was packed with visitors and shoppers attending the local Saturday morning farmers’ market. ‘I’ll try and tie up here and wait for them to get on board.’
‘Hey!’ shouted Orla, waving madly. ‘There’s Sarah and Nikki! I’ll tell them to run down to the quayside where we can pick them up.’
‘Great,’ shouted Jess, trying her best to concentrate as she carefully manoeuvred The Emerald Princess into position and steadied it against the bank. A few minutes later Nikki, Sarah and Kerrie stepped on to it.
‘The boat is huge,’ screamed Nikki, racing all around it.
‘Isn’t it wonderful?’ Amy beamed. ‘And we’re having the best time ever.’
‘We didn’t get to bed till nearly four in the morning.’ Tara laughed. ‘And we had great crack in this fantastic restaurant last night.’
‘I’m so looking forward to a night away from Sam and night feeds and bottles and dirty nappies,’ admitted Sarah. ‘If I fall asleep at the table tonight someone please wake me up, as I don’t want to miss the fun!’
‘Me, too,’ added Kerrie. ‘It’s bad enough with the baby, but I’m trying to train Alice, and every night she keeps wetting her bed.’
‘Yuk!’ groaned the girls in unison.
‘I’ve had it the whole way down on the train,’ whispered Nikki under her breath to Amy. ‘Remind me: I’m never having kids!’
As they cruised on the river through the town they had to join a queue of other boats waiting at the lock. They watched in fascination as the water level of the river changed and the lockkeeper let them pass through, and then they headed upriver.
‘We are stopping for a picnic lunch on Lough Ree,’ Amy announced. ‘And then we’ll head to Carrick-on-Shannon for the night. Jess has booked a table for twelve in Carew’s, and later we can go on to the nightclub in the local hotel, Hickeys, which is very near it.’
‘Wow, sounds great!’ purred Kerrie, already beginning to forget about her children at home.
They sat in the sunshine with the picnic: chilled wine, sliced sugar-baked ham, rolls, salad, and baby potatoes tossed in a vinaigrette dressing, followed by two dozen pink and yellow iced cupcakes with ‘Amy’s Hen’ iced on them – which had been provided by Sarah.
‘How do you get the time to make them?’ asked Orla, stunned by Sarah’s baking prowess as she bit into the melt-in-your-mouth sponge.
‘To be honest, I’m usually up feeding Sam during the middle of the night, and it’s got way worse since he started teething, so I put on the oven and make bread or buns or cakes. It’s a kind of sanity-saver.’
They took photos and reminisced about school and college and starting work.
‘I’m not going to die, folks,’ teased Amy. ‘I’m just getting married.’
‘But it’s the end of a part of your life!’
‘It’s the end of being single!’
‘The end of having fun!’ added Sarah.
‘Sarah!’ they all chorused. ‘Don’t be so mean!’
‘Sorry, I guess I’m so exhausted most of the time that Tom and I forget about fun.’
‘You were having a lot of fun the last time you had dinner at our place,’ reminded Amy.
Sarah blushed. ‘Oh yeah, Tom’s mum and dad had taken Sam for the night, so we went crazy. Overload of drink and sex and more drink and sex!’
‘I think that dinner at our place came somewhere in the middle!’ Amy laughed.
Jess relaxed as The Emerald Princess cruised along. Orla and Aisling had a good feel for the boat, so the sailing wasn’t all down to her.
En route they passed a group of foreign tourists on a big cruiser similar to theirs. ‘I think they must be German or Dutch,’ remarked Aisling as they went by.
The group of guys looked like they were fishing, but up close you could see they were more intent on the beer cans in their hands.
‘Hey! Hey, girls! You want a beer?’ The guys shouted, trying to attract them to their boat.
‘No, thanks!’ they shouted. ‘Bit too early in the day for us!’
Tara and Aisling kept up a bit of banter with the guys, discovering that they were from Frankfurt, and over on a three-day trip to Ireland. The German guys had fluent English and, like themselves, were out for a bit of a laugh on the water. Waving goodbye to them the girls headed up to the immense beauty of Lough Ree: a huge natural lake which bordered two counties.
‘I can’t understand why I’ve never come sailing on the Shannon like this before,’ remarked Susan. ‘It is so beautiful, far better than going and staying in crappy B & Bs in small towns. The scenery is magnificent, and it is so peaceful out here on t
he water. It’s bliss.’
‘I’ll certainly do it again,’ added Tara. ‘It’s amazing.’
It was so warm up on the middle of the lake that they all stripped off to their bikinis and lay out on the deck. The gentle rocking of the boat made a few of them doze off.
‘Well, I’m having a swim again today!’ Orla announced. ‘Anyone care to join me?’
‘You nearly froze yesterday,’ Amy reminded her.
‘Well, today is a lot hotter, and besides, I’m used to it!’
‘I’ll go,’ volunteered Lisa.
‘Me, too.’ Susan laughed.
Before they knew it they had all agreed to jump into the lake.
‘Someone has to stay on board,’ warned Jess, not wanting to be a killjoy.
‘I’ll stay,’ volunteered Nikki. ‘I didn’t bring a bikini with me, and besides, I have a policy of never putting foot in Irish water, as it is too bloody cold.’
Without further ado the rest of them all jumped in. The water was freezing, as predicted, so they screamed and splashed, swimming and chasing each other around, and Nikki grabbed Amy’s camera and took photos of everyone.
As the icy cold water of the lake gripped them they made a mad rush to get back on deck, then wrapped themselves in their towels and downed mugs of hot chocolate and coffee to warm up.
Jess pulled on a fleece and her jeans and took over the wheel. The time was running away with them, and they had to get a move on if they wanted to make it back to Carrick-on-Shannon for the evening.
* * *
The marina was busy, but luckily Jess managed to get a mooring in one of the prettiest towns on the river. With its selection of pubs and restaurants it was always popular!
Pre-dinner they opened more champagne, and presented Amy with her friends book: a big album looking back on her life and her friendship with each of them.
Jess and Nikki had been putting it together for weeks, and seeing Amy’s reaction to the photos, mementoes and individual letters from each of them they knew that all the effort – the emails and phone calls to all the girls, and the hours spent scanning photos and school and college memorabilia – had all been worth it.
Mother of the Bride Page 29